Like us on our Facebook page, isgbaseball
Historic ISG Cuban Clinic Creates Bonds for the FutureThe ISG team headed by VP Pete Caliendo returned in early June after a groundbreaking trip presenting clinics for coaches and players in Cuba. All indications are that it was a tremendous experience. According to Caliendo, the Cuban people were great and the players were fun to be with during the camps which were held in two different locations.
This mission baseball trip co-sponsored by ISG and the Pontifical Mission Societies in the USA was hosted by the Bishops Church of Santa Clara and Camacuay, Cuba. The trip began with a camp in Santa Clara in central Cuba and then the clinic team traveled 4 and half hours to Camacuay in the southeast for the second camp. During the long trip the coaches and support groups were able to talk and get to know each other. They also attended mass in Camacuay and met with church staffs from both parishes. Accompanying Caliendo were Ralph Santana former professional player, Darren Siler, a high school coach, and Jim Spillman from Blessed Sacrament School in Walpole, MA. Over 25 players and their coaches were present at each location for the camps which included warm ups, throwing, pitching, infield drills and stations. All camps ended with a fun game with all the players participating. In Santa Clara the team was also able to watch an outstanding 12u regional team compete. Players from that team joined the camp participants during the final game at the church. The support staff from the Pontifical Mission Societies in the USA were outstanding people of faith that love baseball, but even more importantly, love helping people in need. "This was a very rewarding trip because we were able to give back to the game by helping educate kids who do not have much of a chance to receive very good baseball instruction from coaches from the USA. But more importantly these kids from the Catholic Church spend their daily time helping other kids and families in need. Talk about inspirational young people; they are a great example for all and will become great leaders in the church one day. Ultimately we learn a lot from the people we are trying to help” sais Peter Caliendo. During the trip the ISG staff was able to meet with church officials and workers to observe the things they do to help people in need. They shared together meals and ideas on how to continue to help the poor in their communities. They also had the chance to listen to the kids of the church explain why they help the needy and what made them start doing it and to see some of the projects they have in process to help the needy and make them feel good about themselves. ISG would like to thank the Pontifical Mission Societies in the USA who we plan to assist in the education of baseball to the players and coaches of Cuba in the future. Kudos need also be given to B45 bat company for supplying the much needed bats and to the Futures Baseball league for the donating baseballs. Baseball Returns to Olympics in 2020To the elation of baseball federations all over Europe, the IOC approved the return of baseball to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. The absence of the sport in the games since 2008 has place tremendous burdens on federations who normally receive money from their national sports federations for all Olympic sports.
Following is an article explaining the details from www.mister-baseball.com written by our friend Philipp Wuerfel. The 129th IOC Session in Rio on Wednesday officially approved the return of Baseball and Softball onto the program of the Olympic Games. In Tokyo in 2020 the two bat and ball sports will be played in the Olympics for the first time since 2008. Together with Karate, Surfing, Skateboarding and Sport Climbing the five sports were voted unanimously into the program as additional sports. The Q&A session prior to the decisive vote however once again put the finger into the wound, as question after question was raised if Major League Baseball is going to allow their players to compete in the Olympic tournament. While all the other leagues worldwide will stop play during the Olympic Games an agreement with MLB is still outstanding. After Baseball and Softball were rebuffed by the IOC in 2005 and 2009, the two governing bodies finally came to their senses and founded the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), as most of the national federations already had been combined entities. Under the leadership of WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari Baseball and Softball got their act together and step by step moved closer to the big goal. In 2013 their hard work seemed to be not enough when Wrestling fought off Baseball/Softball among others to remain on the program. But thanks to the so-called Tokyo 2020 agenda by new IOC President Thomas Bach a new path was plotted, as additional sports now can be added after recommendation by the local organizers. After long considerations Tokyo 2020 last year shortlisted five sports including Baseball/Softball. In June the IOC Executive already approved the addition and now the IOC Session has followed as well. |
Scroll Down for MORE stories:
...Former ISG Prez Honored by Czech Federation ...Baseball Returns to the Olympics!! ...Keeping the Game FUN ...HOT NEWS!! Baseball Podcast Changes Name |
Jim Jones Receives Prestigious Honor from Czechs
The Czech Republic Baseball Federation honored former ISG President Jim Jones in creating an eponymous award established this year which will be given annually to those who have made continuous efforts to improve the state of baseball in that nation. The first recipient of the award was well-known Czech coach Richard Kania who has served his country's baseball federation in numerous capacities over the years. He has also been a featured speaker at ISG clinics. Jones presented the award to Kania during a dinner as part of the ISG/Czech Republic certification clinic this past January.
According to Jan Bagin, a long time official in the Federation, Jones, who began coaching in the Czech Republic in 1991 as an Envoy Coach representing Major League Baseball, was so honored because of his long term devotion and continuing support of baseball in the Eastern European country.
Jones succeeded founder Bill Arce as president of ISG in 2001 and served in that capacity for 13 years. He also was a coordinator of the MLB Envoy Program from the early 90s until the new millenium, supervising dozens of American coaches who lived with host families and taught coaches and players the nuances of the game throughout Europe during the program's heyday.
According to Jan Bagin, a long time official in the Federation, Jones, who began coaching in the Czech Republic in 1991 as an Envoy Coach representing Major League Baseball, was so honored because of his long term devotion and continuing support of baseball in the Eastern European country.
Jones succeeded founder Bill Arce as president of ISG in 2001 and served in that capacity for 13 years. He also was a coordinator of the MLB Envoy Program from the early 90s until the new millenium, supervising dozens of American coaches who lived with host families and taught coaches and players the nuances of the game throughout Europe during the program's heyday.
Jim Jones (L) and Richard Kania show off the inaugural Jim Jones Award at the Czech Clinic.
|
A projected slide explains the Jim Jones Award.
|
Arce's Life Story Was the Stuff of Heroes
When the founder of ISG, Bill Arce, passed away recently, not only did baseball lose one of its greatest international promoters, but it also lost a wonderful human being who stood at the center of some of the most important events of the 20th Century. Bill not only started the athletic program at Claremont McKenna and was an innovator who helped baseball grow in Europe, he was also contributing member of what Tom Brokaw called The Greatest Generation. A biography of Coach Arce can be read on the link that follows:
William Arce Biography
A Memorial Service for Coach Arce was held on May 1st. A report on that service will follow.
William Arce Biography
A Memorial Service for Coach Arce was held on May 1st. A report on that service will follow.
How Did the Word "PLAY" Vanish from Sports?
Note: I first wrote this a few months back. Since that time, my feelings on the subject have intensified...especially after watching some highly publicized "youth" sporting events on TV. Recently, I was provided a link to a great article on the subject of single sport athletes which also coincides with my feelings. I've added the link to end of the article. TJO
When I was a kid growing up in Milwaukee, 95% of my waking day during summer school vacation time was spent on the playground six blocks from my house playing baseball, basketball, wiffle ball, making up mock Olympic competitions, racing friends from one end of the field to the other, or just dreaming up some sort of competition that kept all of us busy.
In this, I wasn't much different from thousands of other boys - and even some girls back then - who did the same things all across the country. Today, things are much different, not only in the USA, but - as far as baseball is concerned - also in Europe.
And the key word in my first sentence above is "playing." What is happening more frequently to sports today is that the fun element is being diminished and replaced with adult oriented goals. Increasingly kids are practicing or playing under organized supervision seven days a week, twelve months a year.
They don't get together with friends and make up their own "play" games. No home run derby, no strikeout against the building wall, no "pepper" or "peggy on the bounce or fly!" Everything has to be organized...and usually pretty expensive.
In all the years I spent coaching in Europe for MLB, I saw the same thing. One of the obstacles there to baseball's development, I have always felt, was that kids didn't even go to the playground and play catch on their own. Baseball was only played if organized.
It's time we start a new sports movement! Something so radical that I'm sure to be labeled an agitator for even suggesting it. It might be time to get adults out of sports for a while and just let kids PLAY!
Fortunately, I'm not the only one who feels this way. Following is a link to a sports blog authored by former NBA basketball player Keith Van Horn who thinks kids should definitely have more "free" play.
Tom O'Connell
Read Don't Drink the Kool Aid by Kieth Van Horn.
From ESPN, a fantastic article on tennis great Serena Williams. Link Here.
When I was a kid growing up in Milwaukee, 95% of my waking day during summer school vacation time was spent on the playground six blocks from my house playing baseball, basketball, wiffle ball, making up mock Olympic competitions, racing friends from one end of the field to the other, or just dreaming up some sort of competition that kept all of us busy.
In this, I wasn't much different from thousands of other boys - and even some girls back then - who did the same things all across the country. Today, things are much different, not only in the USA, but - as far as baseball is concerned - also in Europe.
And the key word in my first sentence above is "playing." What is happening more frequently to sports today is that the fun element is being diminished and replaced with adult oriented goals. Increasingly kids are practicing or playing under organized supervision seven days a week, twelve months a year.
They don't get together with friends and make up their own "play" games. No home run derby, no strikeout against the building wall, no "pepper" or "peggy on the bounce or fly!" Everything has to be organized...and usually pretty expensive.
In all the years I spent coaching in Europe for MLB, I saw the same thing. One of the obstacles there to baseball's development, I have always felt, was that kids didn't even go to the playground and play catch on their own. Baseball was only played if organized.
It's time we start a new sports movement! Something so radical that I'm sure to be labeled an agitator for even suggesting it. It might be time to get adults out of sports for a while and just let kids PLAY!
Fortunately, I'm not the only one who feels this way. Following is a link to a sports blog authored by former NBA basketball player Keith Van Horn who thinks kids should definitely have more "free" play.
Tom O'Connell
Read Don't Drink the Kool Aid by Kieth Van Horn.
From ESPN, a fantastic article on tennis great Serena Williams. Link Here.
Caliendo Podcast Gets New Name
Our ISG Vice-President's Podcast, formerly called The Inside Pitch, has been renamed to more adequately describe the State-of-the-Art topics covered and in deference to a similarly titled publication endorsed by the ABCA. Listen as Pete Caliendo interviews some of the key figures on the cutting edge of baseball instruction such as Brewer's pitching coach Derek Johnson, mental training guru, Dr. Tom Hansen and Cubs hitting coach John Malee.
Also, EBM+ -- European Baseball Magazine, the place to go for stats, stories and the latest news about our great game in Europe -- has significantly altered their delivery method. You can find out all about them by clicking on the image to the right. www.ebmplus.one/ EBM+ also features an easy-to-use app that can be downloaded on Google Play or the Apple Store. |
|
Baseball Canada's Vision for Long Term Athletic Development Shared in Coaching Tips Section
Baseball Canada is miles ahead of the curve when it comes to developing athletes for life-long success. Thanks to our friend Andre Lachance, they have allowed us to share the scope of that vision with you. Check out our coaching tips section for a graphic illustration of their LTAD plans.
"LIKE" US ON facebook --- FOLLOW US ON Twitter (@isgbaseball)
Go to facebook.com - look for International Sports Group page. Tell us you "like" us!
